The Challenge of Sustainability in the Field of Logistics

Figures from the European Environment Agency show that 25% of the CO₂ emissions in Spain come from logistical and transport operations. The data reveals that in Spain the emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere have risen by 50% since 1990, in contrast to other countries like Sweden, which have managed to reduce their emissions. Considering that logistics is one of the most polluting sectors, the challenge for businesses in this sector is to maintain or increase the level of service efficacy and efficiency while at the same time reducing the levels of pollutant gas emissions.

Sustainable logistics is feasible if the sector follows the directives outlined below. Operators can use software applications that provide data on routes, loads and the carbon footprint. Users of these programs can find the optimal loads and routes that allow them to be as sustainable as possible without sacrificing efficiency of service.

The second directive is the Learn & Green initiative promoted by the AECOC, which consists of reducing the everyday waste emissions generated by companies by 20% within 5 years. Intermodality is a proposal which takes into account the combination of different modes of transport and the urgency of the transport of goods. It prioritises the least polluting means of transport to the detriment of the most contaminating ones. Opting for renewable energies, especially the use of solar power through the implementation of photovoltaic installations, allows companies to reduce their electricity consumption.

Another directive is green logistics, a philosophy that promotes the transformation of logistical systems, processes and structures to create new ones that are as environmentally friendly as possible. Green logistics focuses on the efficacious use of resources in order to minimise the environmental impact. It seeks a balance between environmental efficiency and financial costs.

These directives imply a change of attitude within the sector, as they mean that business decisions are not only based on criteria of efficacy and financial costs, but also with a third element in the equation: that of the environmental impact.

Nordlogway has developed an application on its website to calculate CO₂ emissions, a calculator that allows companies to measure the environmental impact. Nordlogway, a leading logistics provider in the Osona region and in the Barcelona hub, is positioned at the head of the sector.